Lionel Messi has confirmed in talks with Spanish media on Wednesday that he would be signing with Major League Soccer team Inter Miami. The star stated that he will be going to the United States as his next destination rather than returning to Barcelona or signing a blockbuster contract to play in Saudi Arabia.
After leaving from Barcelona in 2021, where he had spent the bulk of his career up to that point, the Argentine attacker, who is now 35 years old, has spent the last two seasons playing for Paris Saint-Germain. He played his final game for the club on Saturday.
Messi stated that he did not want to have to wait for Barcelona to find a formula to be able to sign him given that Barcelona’s financial condition — they were not able to keep him before his move to PSG, resulting to a sorrowful farewell — they were unable to keep him before he moved to PSG.
Messi told the Spanish daily Diario Sport and Mundo Deportivo, “I was afraid that it would happen again,” Messi said. “I was afraid that it would happen again.”
In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, Lionel Messi answered certain questions. Photo: Mundo Deportivo
“I have made the choice that I will be heading to Miami. I don’t have (the deal) completely completed or maybe there’s still anything left to accomplish, but we chose to continue our journey toward getting there.
“(I decided) to leave Europe; it’s true that I had offers from another European team, but I didn’t even think about it because in Europe, my idea was only to go to Barcelona.” “(I decided) to leave Europe; it’s true that I had offers from another European team; however, I didn’t even think about it.”
“After winning the World Cup and not being able to go to Barca, it’s time for me to go to the MLS to live football in a different way and to enjoy my day-to-day life more. I’m ready for the challenge.”
“Obviously with the same responsibility, as well as the desire to win, and to do things well, but with more calm.”
Messi has already won the Ballon d’Or seven times, and after guiding Argentina to victory at the World Cup in Qatar in December 2022, it is anticipated that he will win the individual honor for an eighth time.
During an interview with Mundo Deportivo, in which he revealed that he will be transferring to Major League Soccer team Inter Miami, Lionel Messi signed a Barcelona shirt. Messi will be playing for Inter Miami. Photo: Mundo Deportivo
After Paris Saint-Germain announced earlier this week that the playmaker, who is largely regarded as the finest player in the history of football, would be leaving, the whole world of football was anxiously anticipating Messi’s decision.
Inter Miami, which was created in 2018 and is co-owned by the former England star David Beckham, fired head coach Phil Neville last week when the team was in last place in the Eastern Conference. Interim head coach Javier Morales, an Argentine, has taken over for the side in the meanwhile.
As a result of Messi’s decision to sign with an MLS team instead of returning to Barcelona and the possibility of earning eye-popping sums of money in Saudi Arabia, both of these possibilities have been eliminated. Instead, Messi will be playing in sunny Miami, a place that he has visited for vacations in the past.
According to some rumors, significant Major League Soccer sponsors like as the apparel giant Adidas and Apple TV, which hold the domestic television rights for the league, may be contributing to his agreement.